The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-19
THE SEXTON'S FAMILY.
A Bold Stroke Made by Them in
Bramleigh.

bramlelgh people believe IN blood, and
sympathize deeply with those who have
seen better days; and SO, when new
family appeared in town, the romance Of
decayed gentility clinging even to the old,
carved, silver door-plate on the front door
ofthe humble cottage which it condescended
to occupy, Bramleigh went out to meet it
with open hands. 1t was very rarely that
any new family came to take up its abode
i'll the place; and, as it was quiet, old sea-
side town, where the people had either
made or inherited their fortunes long ago,
and had not much to engage their minds,
each newcomer excited curiosity and specu-
lation.
The Reveres Zine name) were blessed
with interesting faces. They came with
the June roses, weary, they said, of the
fashionable city, with its hollowness and
shams, and took to the sweet simplicity of
country life with grace and gladness
which was touching to behold. And what
good taste they exhibited in seeking home
in Bramleighl
Mr. Revere, who wore tall beaver hat in
the most expensive state of decline, and a
fine black coat a trife shiny on the seams,
was somewhat Of an invalid He had Ian
guidly elegant air, and long, white, aristo-
cratic-loOking hands. Mrs. Revere was
sallow and polite, wore shawls in the house,
and was also rather delicate in health. The
two Misses Revere, young ladies of twenty
and twenty-five, had handsome, dark eyes,
were smiling, and adorned themselves, even
in thu morning, with field daisies, and pict-
uresque mixtures of poppies and straw.
They were both voted very stylish by all
the young gentlemen in town.
Miss Revere played on the guitar and
sang 'Baby Nine" seated on the doorsteps
at twilight and Miss Tessy, short for The
resa, performed upon the piano until the
whole neighborhood rang with melody.
Several smaller Reveres, of the interesting
age when one seems mostly composed of
legs and sash-ribbons, were trife daring
in their manners on week days, and not so
clean as fine in their attire. But on Sunday,
at church, they looked and behaved like
little angels, so that all the old ladies in the
neighborhood held them up as an example to
the minister's little daughters, who had been
seen committing the enormity of playing
cat's-cradle in prayer time.
The Revere cottage was furnished with
severe and, it must be confessed, decidedly
shabby simplicity. They displayed no relics
of their days Of magnifcence, to which
Mrs. Revere was always pathetically allud-
ing, and which Mr.. Revere seemed to avoid
mentioning, as too sorrowful memory,
though he had related the circumstances OF
his life when he first introduced himself to
the chief men Of the town. This was rather
disappointment to the ladies OF the neigh.
borhood, who made haste to call on the new
comers after hearing their history.
~ suppose they saved some old china and
silver from the wreck of their fortune
though" said Mrs. Allen, one Of the social
props Of the town, whose grandfather, ar
old sea-captain, was said to have left ter
barrels OF Spanish silver dollars in his eel
lar when he died.
"But Mrs. Revere says that they still
possess quite large property in real es
tate; but that it is 80 tied up that it brings
them scarcely any income at oil, )" said Mrs
Trellis, the doctOr's wife.
'Poor souls, it must be so hard for them. ,
sighed Mrs. Allen. "What shame it il
that those elegant girls, so delic.tel,
brought up, so handsome and accomplished
should be obliged to go into the kitchen ant
live life so unsuited to them. They inher
tied great deal from Mrs. Revere's uncle
whose estate is not settled yet. But sup
pose poverty does not seem so bitter whel
one is sure that it will be over soon."
"Your nephew, Mr.. Tom Stratton, seem
to be very much interested in Miss Tessy
saw him walking with her ON the beac
yesterday" said Mrs. Trellis, who say
every thing from her windows.
''Indeed! Well, my nephew belongs t
an old family, and has snug little fortun
in his own right already. He can wei
afford to wait for his wife's inheritance"
The Reveres had been established onl
about three weeks in their new abode befor
the people were very much touched. as we
as astonished, by the condescension dil
played by the head of the house in applyn
for the situation of sexton Of the First Pa
ish church. Mr.. Swan, who had filled tn
place for many years, had resigned, an
was going West to live with one Of hi
sons
'Such an extremely idle life as live |
not noble, and am not at all too proud I
engage in any occupation which is homo
able" he explained to the deacOns, with
gentle humility which was very becoming
"Besides, tits really necessary that shoul
do little something toward the support
my family just at present"
OF course the position was granted to hi
ct once, though two old members of tn
church, faithful and deserving, had mad
previous applications.
80, have MI. Revere, by all meaps,n sal
the ladies OF the parish, with one voic
''Ho's 80 elegant and polite that it will |
spleasure to SEQ him walking up the aisle